Dealing with Dictators

For years, policymakers in states like the US and the UK have described a world divided between democracies and autocracies. These political discussions, however, are rarely accompanied by a rigorous understanding of regime type or capture the variegate history between democracies and autocracies. This course will focus on examining American, Canadian, and British foreign policy toward autocratic regimes (both friends and foes) since World War II. We will explore different conceptualizations of regime type(s), and investigate how institutional, ideological, and political dynamics within and between different regimes affect relations and policy. The seminar will be focused on security and defense, and course readings and assignments will emphasize how these dynamics operate in cases where policies ranged from foreign-imposed regime change, sanctions, and war to patronage and security cooperation.